Derrick Henry is the gold standard out of the backfield, but how do the rest of the ball-carriers stack up in our 2021 NFL running back rankings.
We have heard it time and again, the NFL is a passing league. And of course, the numbers support this since teams have been throwing the ball up and down the field more than ever in recent years.
However, there’s still a place for great running in this league and that was evident by the number of teams in the playoffs that had solid running games. With that being said, we take some time to acknowledge some of the best running backs in the NFL with these 2021 NFL Power Rankings of all 32 starting running backs.
Just as a side note, this is only looking at the starters which means some solid No. 2 guys such as Kareem Hunt and Tony Pollard won’t make the cut even though an argument could be made that they’re both top-20 guys with Hunt flirting with the top-10. Instead, we are looking solely at starters, beginning with La’Mical Perine of the New York Jets.
32. La’Mical Perine, New York Jets
You never want to disrespect a player and putting them at No. 32 sometimes feels as though that’s exactly what is happening. However, the issue with La’Mical Perine is that he enters 2021 without a whole lot of experience.
He never had 1,000-yards for the Florida Gators with 826 being his highest output back in 2018. As a rookie in 2020, the fourth-round pick had just 64 rushes for 232 yards and two scores.
New York won’t leave him unchallenged though as they added rookie Michael Carter and veteran Tevin Coleman — although he has had injury concerns. In the end, Perine might not hold the top job for long.
31. Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals allowed Kenyan Drake to hit the open market this offseason and they replaced him with James Conner. As of now, it looks as though Chase Edmonds will start over Conner but neither is considered a superstar and Edmonds has just 959 yards in three seasons.
He’s another guy who could break out if given more opportunities, but as of now, he still has more to prove.
30. Mike Davis, Atlanta Falcons
When Christian McCaffrey went down for the Carolina Panthers, Mike Davis was elevated to the starting role. In his seventh season in the NFL, the former South Carolina standout had his best year as a pro.
Davis finished with 642 yards and six touchdowns. That led to the Atlanta Falcons signing him in the offseason to replace Todd Gurley and, as of now, he appears to be the starter.
There are some concerns though since Davis has just 3.7 yards per attempt in his career and was at just 3.9 last year. There’s really not much competition for him in Atlanta, but they might not be much better than they were a season ago — which wasn’t great.
29. Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams
Darrell Henderson wasn’t supposed to be the starter for the Los Angeles Rams but when Cam Akers tore his Achilles, he shot up the draft board. Once a highly thought of young prospect, Henderson has yet to make his mark in the NFL.
He did record 624 yards and five touchdowns last season but, as the year went on, he was playing second-fiddle to Akers. Now there’s some talk they could add another veteran but for now, Henderson is in line to start and could end up changing the narrative surrounding him if he’s successful.
28. Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins
A former seventh-round pick out of Washington, Myles Gaskin has already outplayed his draft position. He was a workhorse for the Huskies and after getting just 36 carries as a rookie, he made huge improvements in year two.
Gaskin finished 2020 with 584 yards on 142 rushes while starting just seven games. He had 90 yards in Week 13 but then missed the next two games before putting up 87 on just 14 carries in Week 16.
He’s projected to be the starter in 2021 and with the improvement, he showed throughout the season, there’s no reason to think he won’t keep proving to be a steal for Miami.
27. Mark Ingram II, Houston Texans
He’s going to turn 32 this season, but there’s no reason to think Mark Ingram won’t be able to take the reins as the starting running back for the Houston Texans. He had a huge dip in production last season going from 1,018 yards for Baltimore in 2019 to just 299 in 2020.
Of course, the Ravens had J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and quarterback Lamar Jackson all eating up rushing attempts. Ingram could still prove to be a valuable player but the big problem is that the Texans team as a whole leaves a lot to be desired.
26. Damien Harris, New England Patriots
Sony Michel was a first-round pick for the New England Patriots in 2018 and had more than 900 yards in each of his first two seasons. However, he dealt with injuries for much of the 2020 season and had just 449 yards and one touchdown.
That opened up the door for Damien Harris to take over and he had 691 yards and two touchdowns in just 10 games. That should be enough to get him the No. 1 job this season and Harris is a player who could end up out-performing expectations.
The only thing that could hold him back is the Patriots’ propensity to use as many running backs as humanly possible in every game.
25. Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills
It wouldn’t have been a shock to see the Buffalo Bills try and bring in competition at running back this season. They elected not to do so, instead rolling with Devin Singletary and Zack Moss.
Singletary enters his third season with 1,462 yards and four touchdowns to his name. Moss, a rookie last season, had 481 yards and four touchdowns.
Singletary likely remains the starter but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him nudged out, especially if Moss makes a leap in year two.
24. Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers
In terms of overall talent, Raheem Mostert should be much higher than this. Unfortunately, the San Francisco 49ers’ starting running back comes with some durability concerns. He missed five games in 2017, seven in 2018, and eight in 2020. He did play every game in 2019, which was when he had 772 yards and eight touchdowns while running eight touchdowns.
Mostert is a player who can break off the long runs and has the speed to change the game. If he could stay healthy, he could climb the board but for now, he’s a guy who can be exciting but the Niners hold their breath every time he’s tackled.
23. Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Another player who might not be guaranteed to keep his starting role in 2021 is Ronald Jones of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That’s not due to anything he’s done wrong, however, since he’s coming off his best season as a pro. The issue for him is the fact that Tampa Bay brought back Leonard Fournette, who was playing great as they went into the playoffs and won the title.
Still, Jones is the more explosive player of the two and did have 978 yards and seven touchdowns while starting 13 games. More importantly, he had 5.1 yards per catch and is a better receiver than Fournette.
In Tampa Bay’s offense, he might not ever get the carries that some other backs get but Jones is still a player who can hit the hole in a hurry and has long speed, evidenced by his career-high 98-yard touchdown run in Week 10 last year.
22. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles
There were some big shoes to fill at Penn State when Saquon Barkley headed to the NFL but Miles Sanders was up to the challenge. He ended up doing well enough to land with the Philadelphia Eagles who took him at No. 53 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.
In two seasons, Sanders has 1,685 yards with nine touchdowns. He took some steps forward as a runner this past season but saw his reception total dip from 50 for 509 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie to 28 for 197 yards with no scores last season.
He’s still a capable player and with more consistent play under center from Jalen Hurts, he could be even better.
21. Najee Haris, Pittsburgh Steelers
After losing James Conner in free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers took Najee Harris at No. 24 in the 2021 NFL Draft. This came after he ran for 1,466 yards and an unreal 26 touchdowns for the Alabama Crimson Tide in his senior season.
Harris should be able to restore the Steelers once vaunted running game but since he’s a rookie, we need to temper our expectations for now. But he’s still a 230-pound running back who could take a lot of pressure off the shoulders of Ben Roethlisberger.
20. D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions
One of the best rookies in the 2020 Draft Class, D’Andre Swift went to the Detroit Lions at No. 35 overall. He probably should have been the featured back but in Detroit, they went with veteran Adrian Peterson for the majority of the season.
Swift still got 114 carries and was impressive with 521 yards and eight touchdowns but he also showed off his receiving skills by grabbing 46 receptions for 357 yards and two more touchdowns.
Now he’s set for more in 2021 and he proved he can get the job done. The only reason he might not have the big numbers he’s capable of would be the lack of talent around him in Detroit but he’s a capable player.
19. J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens
Another running back taken in the 2020 NFL Draft was J.K. Dobbins who was the second back for the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie. He finished with 805 yards and nine touchdowns, showing he was more than capable of taking the lead role.
Now in 2021, he could be ready for an expanded role with Mark Ingram gone — but still has to contend with Gus Edwards who is no slouch. Overall, this is a top-five running team and in time, Dobbins could prove to be there by himself.
18. James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
When the Jacksonville Jaguars released Leonard Fournette ahead of the 2020 season, they were admitting they over-drafted him when they took him at No. 4 overall in 2017. As fate would have it, he was replaced by a guy who wasn’t even drafted at all and the running game was even better.
James Robinson from Illinois State went for 1,070 yards on the ground and another 344 receiving. He scored 10 total touchdowns and even with Travis Etienne on the roster, he should be the starter in 2021. He’s not one of the elite players in the game but he’s more than able to move the chains.
17. Melvin Gordon III, Denver Broncos
After five seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, Melvin Gordon joined an AFC West rival, signing with the Denver Broncos. Despite there being a crowded backfield, Gordon was able to get the majority of the starts and had 986 yards with nine touchdowns.
He added another 158 yards and a touchdown on 32 receptions. He enters 2021 still in line to start but he has some competition with Javonte Williams being added in the 2021 NFL Draft. There’s also still Royce Freeman as well, meaning the Broncos continue to have a crowded backfield.
16. Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team
One player who was drafted in 2020 and came in with a lot of intrigue was Antonio Gibson. The Memphis wide receiver was drafted in the third round by the Washington Football Team after switching positions to running back. He had just 834 yards receiving in his career and 369 rushing yards but had the talent to make the change.
As a rookie, he more than exceeded expectations. Gibson had 795 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground and added 36 receptions. Now preparing for his second season in the NFL, he’s one of the better backs in the game and will only get better the more reps he gets.
15. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
After Marlon Mack went down with an injury, the Indianapolis Colts turned to second-round pick Jonathan Taylor who was ready to take on the starting role. In 13 starts (while playing 15 games) Taylor looked much like the player we saw at Wisconsin, running for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns — while averaging 5.0 yards per attempt.
Taylor is listed at 5-foot-10 and 226-pounds, making him one of the bigger backs in the NFL but he’s not just a player who wins with power. He also has the speed to take it the distance and could be a huge help to the Colts offense as they look to get Carson Wentz up to speed.
14. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
The only running back taken in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft was Clyde Edwards-Helaire who was taken 32nd overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a bit of a surprise pick for the Chiefs but once Edwards-Helaire started to play for them, it was clear that he was a perfect fit in their offense.
Kansas City is never going to be a run-first team but they do now have a player who can carry the load. He’s also a weapon in the passing game as well but has stated that he hopes to get even better in this regard going forward.
13. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
Ahead of the 2020 season, the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Mixon agreed to a four-year, $48 million extension. He was starting to come on strong as well, running for 151 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 4 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Mixon ended up with just 428 yards on the season since he was sent to the injured reserve after suffering a foot injury, limiting him to just six games.
Forgetting about him due to this injury would be a mistake though. Mixon had back-to-back seasons with more than 1,100 yards before the injury and now he has more weapons around him on offense to take some of the pressure off of him going forward.
12. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Alabama running back Josh Jacobs finished his collegiate career in style and did enough to get the Las Vegas Raiders to take him in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he was given the ball 242 times and put up 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns.
His efficiency dipped in 2020 when he ran for 1,065 yards on 273 carries but he proved to be a better weapon in the red zone, going for 12 touchdowns. He also improved as a pass-catcher.
In 2021, he has a little more help around him with Kenyan Drake joining the Raiders. That could end up helping Jacobs by keeping him fresher than he was at times in 2020.
11. David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears let Jordan Howard leave after 2018 despite rushing for 3,370 yards and 24 touchdowns in three seasons. His replacement was rookie David Montgomery who they added in the third round of the draft out of Iowa State.
He ran for 889 yards as a rookie but was even better in 2020 with 1,070 yards but he also added 438 yards through the air. The Bears offense should be better this season with Justin Fields (as soon as he takes over for Andy Dalton) which will only help Montgomery perform better.
10. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys made it seem as if they were one of the smartest teams in 2014 when they elected not to re-sign DeMarco Murray. Their star running back had just led the NFL in rushing yards but Dallas understood that running backs could be replaced — and they were proven right when Darren McFadden outperformed what Murray did for the Eagles the following season.
Then, they proved they were just lucky rather than brilliant because they used the No. 4 overall pick in 2016 on Ezekiel Elliott. As a rookie, Zeke led the league in rushing but he has had a lot of issues since then including a suspension in 2017 and a pretty rough season in 2020 just one year after signing a massive extension.
Now, the team is claiming he’s looking better than ever and while he will still probably put up 1,000-yards or more, he’s not the one who makes their offense go — and he’s trending in the wrong direction.
9. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Austin Ekeler was the running back who got the new contract while Melvin Gordon was allowed to leave. Ekeler isn’t a traditional back as he has never run for more than 557 yards in a season but he’s as dangerous as anyone in the passing game.
He had 993 yards and eight touchdowns through the air in 2019 and could have been as solid last season if he didn’t miss six games. If he plays all 17 this season, he might have a shot at 1,000 through the air.
8. Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
A seventh-round pick in 2017, Chris Carson has become not only one of the leaders of the Seattle Seahawks impressive offense but also one of the top running back in the NFL. He rushed for more than 1,150 yards in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons and could have potentially crossed the 1,000-yard mark again this past season had he not missed four games.
Playing in just 12 contests, Carson finished with 681 yards and five touchdowns. On top of his strong running ability, Carson is a weapon in the passing game as well.
He signed a two-year extension ahead of the 2021 campaign and figures to continue to play a huge role in the Seahawks offense.
7. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
When Jason Garrett took over as the New York Giants offensive coordinator, the expectations for Saquon Barkley were through the roof. He was already a star but with Garrett’s commitment to running, the sky was the limit.
Unfortunately, Barkley was lost in Week 2 to a torn ACL, and was struggling even before that. However, expecting him to be anything other than amazing once he’s healthy probably won’t work out.
Barkley is a weapon on the ground and through the air — and the entire Giants offense was a mess without him in 2020.
6. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
It wasn’t that long ago that Aaron Jones was a part of a running back committee with Jamaal Williams, who was taken one round earlier than Jones in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. Then in 2019, Jones asserted himself as the better back with 1,558 total yards and 19 touchdowns.
He’s a dangerous player both on the ground and through the air which is why Green Bay agreed to a four-year, $48 million extension with him this past offseason.
Green Bay also understands they need to keep him fresh, which is why they drafted A.J. Dillon in 2020, but the extension proves that Jones will continue to be the star in their backfield — and his performance proves that’s the right move. Having Dillon could just prolong Jones’ career, since he won’t be run into the ground the way some teams like to do with their backs (looking at you Dallas).
5. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Seriously, if Alvin Kamara wanted to move to receiver full-time, he could do it. This kid was criminally under-utilized collegiately at Tennessee and was even on the Alabama roster for a while, which is incredibly scary to think of.
Kamara has never crossed the 1,000-yard mark as a runner but he has also never had fewer than 81 receptions in a season. He’s simply an all-around weapon that defenses have to gameplan around.
4. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
He wasn’t even the first guy from his school drafted in 2018, but Nick Chubb has already asserted himself as one of the best in the entire NFL. His Georgia teammate, Sony Michel, went in Round 1 to the New England Patriots and Chubb ended up landing with the Cleveland Browns at pick No. 35 in the second.
He’s not only surpassed his former teammate in the NFL but he has quickly become one of the best in the game. He finished second in the NFL. inrushing in 2019 and still crossed the 1,000-yard mark in 2020 despite missing four games with a knee injury.
Chubb enters this season on the final year of his rookie contract and he could be in for a massive payday if his stellar play continues.
3. Christian McCaffery, Carolina Panthers
Christian McCaffery is hands-down the best player on the Carolina Panthers roster. He’s another all-around player much like the aforementioned Alvin Kamara who could probably move to receiver full-time if he wanted to.
He has already hauled in 320 receptions for his career and went for 1,005 yards through the air in 2019 — which was his second season in a row catching more than 100-passes.
What separates him from Kamara is that he has also hit more than 1,000-yards rushing twice, which is why the Panthers rewarded him with a $64 million extension over four seasons. He did miss 13 games in 2020 but as long as he’s healthy this season, he will be one of the best in the game once again.
2. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
As a rookie in 2017, Dalvin Cook was facing quite the challenge. The second-round pick from Florida State had to replace a legend as the Minnesota Vikings drafted him to take the spot once held by Adrian Peterson.
Things got off to a great start for Cook, who broke the team’s rookie debut record with 127 yards in his first game — which happened to be against New Orleans who now had Peterson, the previous record holder. Then things got rough for him when he tore his ACL in Week 4.
He missed 12 games that season and another five in his second campaign, which saw him run for 615 yards in 11 contests. Then in 2019, Cook finally broke through. He rand for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns with another 519 yards receiving.
The performance led to a five-year, $63 million extension ahead of the 2020 season which ended up being his best as a pro. The fourth-year player ran for 1,557 yards and 16 touchdowns in 14 games — averaging 111.2 per contest.
Cook’s only issue at all in his career has been durability — never playing more than 14 games in a season — but he’s proven that he’s still one of the best in the NFL. In fact, there’s only one who comes in higher than him in these 2021 running back power rankings.
1. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
One guy who simply has it all is Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans. An absolute mammoth of a man, Henry is built like a linebacker but he’s also able to break off the long run ‚ evidenced by the fact that he has a 99-yard and a 94-yard run under his belt.
As we enter the 2021 NFL Season, there’s no running back in the league right now who is better than Henry — and it’s not even close. He not only won the rushing title twice in a row (1,540 yards in 2020 and 2,027 in 2021), but he also amassed 2,758 yards after contact over the past three seasons as pointed out by Sam Monson of PFF.
"“Henry has 2,758 yards after contact since the start of the 2019 season, almost 1,000 more than any other back in that span.” — Monson, PFF"
The Alabama product had some doubters when he came into the NFL due to his upright running style, but he has since shed that concern. Sure, no other running back looks like the 6-foot-3, 247-pound Henry, but he’s broken the mold in recent seasons.
Tennessee continues to build up their passing game with players such as A.J. Brown and Julio Jones but Henry is still the face of this offense and comes in as the best running back in our rankings.